IdiomDaily Life
French
FrenchSe reposer sur ses lauriers
Meaning: To coast on past achievements instead of continuing to work.
Literally: To rest on one's laurels
Example: “Après sa médaille, la nageuse ne s'est pas reposée sur ses lauriers.” — After her medal, the swimmer didn't rest on her laurels.
English equivalent: To rest on one's laurels
Other ways to say this
Italian: adagiarsi sugli allori Literally: To rest oneself on the laurels
English: rest on one's laurels- French: Les délices de Capoue Literally: The delights of Capua
Origin: The laurel wreath crowned Roman triumphs and poetic victories alike. The reproach is that the wreath was for what was done, not a license for what follows.
More French idioms
- Une lune de miel The first happy period of a marriage, or of any new arrangement.
- Bien luné In a good mood — and mal luné, in a bad one.
- Depuis belle lurette For ages; for a very long time.
- Depuis des lustres For a very long time.
- Pleurer comme une Madeleine To cry copiously and without restraint.
- Une madeleine de Proust A small sensory trigger that unlocks a flood of memory.
Explore another collection: Proverbs
Short sayings of timeless wisdom from more than 50 cultures, each with its meaning and origin.
- C'est dans les vieux pots qu'on fait la meilleure soupe Experience, and older people, often do things best.
- Un chien regarde bien un évêque Even the humblest person has some rights in front of the powerful.
- Un coup de langue est pire qu'un coup de lance Hurtful words do more harm than physical blows.
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